Common Potoo
Nyctibius griseus
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A medium-sized potoo (33-38 cm) widespread across Central and South America. Grey-brown plumage provides outstanding camouflage on tree stumps. Nocturnal insectivore with enormous eyes and wide gape. Famous for its eerie, descending mournful cry that carries through tropical forests at night.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Envergadura | 51,3 cm | 20.2 in |
| Peso | 165,66666666666666 g | 5.84 oz |
Identificación
Plumaje
Cryptic grey-brown upperparts with intricate black, buff, and white streaking; underparts pale with brown shaft streaks; large yellow eyes with slit pupils; polymorphic—some individuals more rufous-brown; masterful bark-mimic when roosting.
Habitat & Range
Distribución geográfica
Found across tropical South America east of the Andes south to Bolivia and Argentina. Resident in forest edge, savanna woodland, and open areas.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly nocturnal insectivore; hunts from a upright perch by detecting flying moths and large beetles with large light-sensitive eyes.
Estado de conservación
Comportamiento y reproducción
Nidificación
Nest type: NO. Incubation: 30-33 days. Fledging: 40-47 days.
Tamaño de la puesta
1
Sonido
Canto
Haunting, descending 'POOR-me-ONE'; mournful wail of 5-6 notes; iconic sound of Neotropical nights; calls from high snag; female answer slightly higher-pitched
Taxonomía
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Orden | Caprimulgiformes (Chotacabras y Vencejos) |
| Familia | Nyctibiidae (Nictibios) |
| Genus | Nyctibius |
| Especies | Nyctibius griseus |
Distribution
Common Potoo has been recorded in 4 countries.
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External Databases
Preguntas frecuentes
What does the Common Potoo eat?
Where does the Common Potoo live?
Is the Common Potoo endangered?
How does the Common Potoo nest?
What does the Common Potoo sound like?
How big is the Common Potoo?
What order and family does the Common Potoo belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Nyctibiidae family